City leaders urged to reject plans for new petrol station, restaurant and hotel in York

AN application to build a petrol station, restaurant and 50-room hotel beside York’s ring road looks likely to to be refused.

The plans for land next to Hopgrove roundabout have been recommended for refusal in a City of York Council report, because it is “inappropriate” within the green belt and could exacerbate the flood risk.

Furthermore, not enough has been done to show how developers will protect water voles, a protected species living in the area, the report notes. The matter will be considered by the council planning committee on Thursday.

Erik Matthews, development management officer and author of the report, said: “The proposal fails to acknowledge and address the green belt location of the site and the fact that it is inappropriate development, the significant adverse impact of the development upon the residential amenity of neighbouring properties, the potential impact of the development upon the habitat of the water vole, a protected species, or the impact of the development upon the level of flood risk to properties in the vicinity.

“The development is considered to be unacceptable and it is recommended planning permission be refused.”

Concerns have also been raised by the council’s Environmental Protection Unit, Huntington Parish Council, The Foss Internal Drainage Board and a local resident’s action group living on land next to the development.

The National Planning Policy Framework states that inappropriate development within the Green Belt should not be approved except in “very special circumstances”. No case for special circumstances has been made.